"Hardball College Tour: Villanova" with Republican Presidential Candidate Sen. John McCain to Air Live from Villanova University on Tuesday, April 15th

Limited number of remaining tickets available to the general public beginning April 10

For Immediate Release
April 8, 2008

VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova University has been selected as a stop on “Hardball with Chris Matthews” College Tour on Tuesday, April 15. Mr. Matthews’ guest for the event will be Senator John McCain, Republican presidential candidate. MSNBC will air the show live from 5-6 p.m. from The Pavilion, located on the campus of Villanova University.

A replay of “The Hardball College Tour: Villanova” broadcast will air the same night on MSNBC from 7-8 p.m.

Admission to the event is free, but tickets are required. Remaining tickets, following prior distribution to Villanova University students/faculty/staff, will be offered to the general public on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tickets are available through the Department of Athletics Ticket Office beginning Thursday, April 10. The Athletics Ticket Office is located in Jake Nevin Field House (on the corner of Ithan and Lancaster Avenues). For additional ticket information, please call 610-519-4100.

Doors will open for the “Hardball” event beginning at 3:30 p.m. Due to security measures, no bags, backpacks or signs will be allowed into the venue.

Senator McCain will be interviewed by Matthews on key issues of the 2008 presidential election, and Villanova students will have the opportunity to question the candidate.

The upcoming Pennsylvania presidential primary has put the entire state in the spotlight, creating a historic and exciting opportunity for students to view the presidential election process at close hand. While Villanova University does not support or oppose any particular candidate for political office, it is believed that students’ active engagement in issues of national and international concern raised in this election is important to their education.

In addition to supporting freedom of inquiry, Villanova as an academic institution encourages student participation in this national dialogue. It is also an educational opportunity to experience the coordination and production of a live news program such as the “Hardball College Tour.”

It is important to note that this is a regularly scheduled news program and not a campaign event. Neither “Hardball” nor Chris Matthews is endorsing or opposing a particular candidate. Senator McCain is the second candidate to appear on MSNBC's 2008 “Hardball College Tour.” Senator Barack Obama appeared on “The Hardball College Tour” at West Chester University on April 2. An invitation has also been extended to Democratic candidate, Senator Hillary Clinton.

Since 1999, "Hardball" has featured “College Tours” from some of America's major universities, including Georgetown University, the University of Southern California, the University of Notre Dame, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, Clemson University, Michigan State University, American University and Stanford University.

Villanova University is a co-educational Roman Catholic institution founded by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842. The University offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs through four colleges: the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, and the College of Nursing, as well as the Villanova Law School. With a total enrollment that surpasses 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students, Villanova is the oldest and largest Catholic university in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For more information see www.villanova.edu.

Media inquiries regarding coverage of the event should be directed to the Villanova University Media Relations Office.

About Villanova

Villanova University was founded in 1842 by the Order of St. Augustine. To this day, Villanova’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition is the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University’s six colleges.